Clinical estimation of liver span in infants and children
E. E. Lawson, R. J. Grand, R. K. Neff and L. F. Cohen
The liver span in 350 infants and children was determined by percussion of
the upper and lower borders in the midclavicular line. Mean liver span was
found to be related to age curvilinearly and ranged from a minimum of 1.9
cm at 1 week of age to a maximum of 7.7 cm in males and 6.3 cm in females
at 20 years of age. In children with normal growth patterns, age and sex
were found to be the major factors influencing liver size. Though height
and weight also correlated with liver span, these variables did not add
substantially to the correlation using age and sex alone. The presence of
minor systemic illnesses, eg, otitis and gastroenteritis, did not affect
liver span. The expected normal values for liver span at different ages for
male and female children have been established and provide the basis for
comparison during routine physical examination.
